Serotonin Boosters -- Natural Boosters

77

By Benjimester

Serotonin Boosters

In our modern world serotonin boosters are essential.  Because of just how poor the Standard American Diet has become, it's so easy to have a chemical deficiency or imbalance, effecting your mood, your energy, and your overall health.  Serotonin is at the top of the list of important body chemicals because serotonin regulates happiness, depression, and other emotions.  If you have a serotonin imbalance or deficiency, you'll just plain feel lousy.  But let's get back to diet for a moment.  One of the biggest downfalls of modern diets is that corporate farming methods have reduced the amount of the essential fatty acids known as Omega 3s by 10-20 times.  Our diets only include 5-10% of what they used to of one of the most vital compounds for brain function.  This has come about mostly due to grain feeding cattle instead of grass feeding them, which causes the meat to produce Omega 6s instead of Omega 3s.  Omega 6s are needed as well, but the body is supposed to get a balance of 1:1 between Omega 3s and Omega 6s.  According to studies the modern diet contains between 10 to 20 times more Omega 6s than Omega 3s.  So you can imagine why brain function might be impaired.  That's why serotonin boosters are essential.  So what are some serotonin boosters?

Taking a regular sunset walk or jog is one of the best serotonin boosters I can think of.
Taking a regular sunset walk or jog is one of the best serotonin boosters I can think of.

A Few Serotonin Boosters

Here are some natural serotonin boosters that will help in the healthy production and release of brain hormones.

1. Diet

  • Like we discussed in the above section, a good diet is absolutely vital to proper chemical balance and brain function. Eating things like Omega 3 fatty acids and amino acids, which are the building blocks of most chemicals in the body, is a great first step. A few amino acids in particular, 5-HTP and L-Theanine, are directly linked to the brain. Omega 3 fatty acids comprise the working outer surface of your brain. They're essential to proper brain function. You can also take supplements which promote and enhance brain function, things like ginkgo biloba, ginseng, and st johns wort. There are many dietary supplements out there that claim to have a good blend of vitamins and minerals that support serotonin production. I've left links at the bottom to a great amino acid product, and an Omega 3 fatty acid product.

2. Exercise

  • Now I'm starting to sing the same tired old song. Diet and exercise right? We've been hearing it for years. Well guess what, that's because it's still true. Exercising causes the body to release serotonin. Studies have shown that people who exercise more are generally happier and more content in life. Do yourself a favor and go on a nice sunset walk a few times a week.
  • Another great way to ensure that you're getting all of the building blocks you need is to take a green powder of some form like wheatgrass, barley grass, or a green powder combination like Green Vibrance that contains a wide variety of green ingredients and is full of Omega 3 fatty acids, amino acids, and other building blocks.

3. Sunlight

  • Make sure you get enough sunlight. Not only is sunlight vital to the production of vitamin D, sunlight is also vital to the healthy regulation of chemicals in the body. Disorders like Seasonal Affected Disorder (SAD) come about because of a lack of daily sunlight. Depression and the general feeling of the blues will come about if you don't get enough daily sunlight. Not only that, but the more research that's being done on sunlight, the more scientists are beginning to admit the wondrous healthy properties of the sun. Sunlight has been heavily demonized by dermatologists for years. Now scientists are finally starting to admit that chemical sunscreens and a lack of sunlight might be more dangerous than actually getting out in the sun and absorbing it, like human beings have been doing for THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

4. Sleep

  • Sleep is essential for the body's regulation of chemicals. Things like the adrenal glands only have the chance to replenish themselves during sleep. If you're not getting enough sleep, your hormones and chemicals will eventually become imbalanced.

Serotonin and the Standard American Diet

If you're eating the Standard American Diet, chances are that multiple chemicals in your body are either imbalanced or deficient. If you're reading an article about serotonin boosters, then chances are that you're starting to figure that out. Many studies have shown that foods today don't contain the same nutritional value that they did 50 years ago. Again corporate farming methods of under-replenishing the soil have caused most grocery fruits and vegetables to have only the bare minimum of nutrients in order to grow. This puts a large strain on your body. Your body needs to make the same amount of chemicals with less building blocks. It gets even tougher as we grow older. If you're experiencing or suspect you might be experiencing a vitamin, mineral, hormone, or chemical deficiency, you really need to do a few things better. Start eating raw organic fruits and vegetables. Make sure you're getting enough of the 20 essential amino acids. Either start eating lots of fish or start taking a good fish oil like the product below for your Omega 3 essential fatty acids. And finally, ditch all fast food. Don't even think about Mcdonalds anymore.

This article is meant to add to your general knowledge and is not meant to be taken as medical advice.

Carlson Omega 3 500ml-orange-2 Bottles
Amazon Price: $97.00
Bragg - Bragg Liquid Aminos, 16 fl oz liquid
Amazon Price: $3.26
List Price: $4.69

Comments

Seakay profile image

Seakay 21 months ago

Love it when I learn something from authors here. Good read and I need to write some of this down!

Benjimester profile image

Benjimester Hub Author 21 months ago

Thanks! That's very good of you to say.

laitaine profile image

laitaine 21 months ago

Another good hub! :) Of course it helps to actually eat fresh vegetables you realize. ;)

Benjimester profile image

Benjimester Hub Author 21 months ago

Gracias amiga. I eat my guacamole and salsa plenty. That's enough green for me :)

lefseriver profile image

lefseriver 21 months ago

good one.....:) makes me want to go get some more firewood soon.... for exercise... nice photo of the walker...

Benjimester profile image

Benjimester Hub Author 21 months ago

Yep, me too. Let's go chop down some trees.

Tamarajo profile image

Tamarajo Level 5 Commenter 21 months ago

once again Excellent info.

Benjimester profile image

Benjimester Hub Author 21 months ago

Thanks! And I'm typing this just before going out for my daily exercise of chopping up firewood. Let the serotonin flow!

Jezhug profile image

Jezhug 21 months ago

Top hub Benjimester ;)

Benjimester profile image

Benjimester Hub Author 21 months ago

Thank you :)

gr82bme profile image

gr82bme 20 months ago

Great hub. i have been feeling glum lately. I will have to read more of your hubs

Benjimester profile image

Benjimester Hub Author 20 months ago

Yeah, now that Fall is turning into Winter up here, serotonin boosters are a good thing for me to start thinking about again too.

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